Cigarette lighter



June 23, 1936. FLQRMAN 2,045,456

CIGARETTE LIGHTER Filed April 15, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet l fiv/hy fiarman.

June 23, 1936. I. FLORMAN 2,045,456

CIGARETTE LIGHTER Filed April 15, 1 936 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 3 m I fr /779 Harmon R QQW June 23, 1936. I. FLORMAN CIGARETTE LIGHTER Filed April 15, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheetv 3 7. ing of any special spot, but which can be'manip- I Patented June 23, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE 18 Claims.

vide a lighter which can be manipulated without requiring careful attention to the operation, and

which is especially easy to operate for nervous or infirm users, or in the dark.

A second object of the invention is to provide a lighter whichdoes not require the pressing or pushing of buttons or finger pieces, or the touchulated in a natural manner as it is grasped in the hand. I

Still another object of the invention is to provide a lighter which can be operated by a sliding pressure exerted on the two opposed side walls.

still another object is to provide a lighter of this type which has no unsightly projecting parts when in closed position, but in which the flora is shielded when the lighter is in use. I

Further objects and advantages of the inven tion will appear more fully from the following description, particularly whentaken in conJunc-" tion with the accompanying drawings which form a part thereof.

In the drawings: a

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my lighter in closed position.

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the lighter in open operative position. i 1

Figs. 3 and 4 are end views from the left hand side of Fig. 1, showing the lighter in closed and open position respectively.

Figs. 5 and 6 are side elevations of the rear and front casing sections, respectively.

Figs. 7 and 8 are side and end elevations, respectively, of the igniter mechanism which is carried by the rear casing section.

Figs. 9 and 10 are similar views of the plate carried by the front casing section.

Figs. 11 and 12 are side elevations, with parts broken away, of the lighter in closed and open positions, respectively.

Figs. 13 and 14 areicross sections on the lines l3-i3 and I4-l4 respectively of Fig. 11.

Fig. 15 is a bottom plan view with the casing omitted. I

As shown in Fig. 1, the lighter comprises a substantially rectangular casing with fiat walls, and with rounded corners. The casing consists of two sections, a back section 2 and a front section 4. Each of these sections forms substantially half of a substantially closed'thin box, the sections being separated along a vertical plane defined by a line 6. The sections are vertically or longitudinally slidable with respect to each other by reason of dovetail joints 8 along each C end wall.

Mounted within the casing formed by the sections 2 and 4 is a container i orchamber filled with an absorbent material i2 such as sterilized cotton. Through an opening i4 in the top wall of this container extends a wick It. The bottom of the container is closed by a threaded plug it, which is removable to permit filling of the contamer with fuel. This -plug passes through an aperture 20 formed by cooperating semi-circular sections in the two casing portions.

The width of the casing I0 is less than the interior width of the sections 2 and 4. Mounted on one end wall of the casing is a tube 22 closed at the bottom by a threaded plug 24 arranged in an aperture 26 formed by semi-circular notches in the two sections 2 and 4. Within the tube is arranged a long coil spring 28, and in the upper endof the tube is a fiint 30 located at a point adjacent the wick. This flint cooperates with a flint wheel 32 formed of metal and having a ser-' rated periphery. The wheel 32 is mounted on a shaft 34 carried in ears I6 upstanding from the g5 topwall of the casing In and the tube 22. It is evident that rotation of the wheel 32 will cast sparks against the wick I6 to ignite the same.

In the top of the casing formed by the sections 2 and 4 and between the two sections is an opening 30 which is closed by a cover member 28 which is fixedly mounted on the shaft 34 and which is connected to the wheel 32 to cause rotation of the same when the cover lifts but to permit free movement of the cover when it is depressed 35 through a pawl and ratchet mechanism 40. including a pawl fixed on shaft 34 and ratchet teeth on the flint wheel. The cover 28 lies substantially flush with the top wall of the casing sections 2 and 4. The underside of the cover carries a .40 snufier member 42 which in closed position sur rounds and encloses the wick Hi.

The unit formed by the casing ill, tube 22, and ears 36 is held in position in the rear casing sections 2 by means of upstanding portion 44 secured 45 to the casing it) which has an opening fitting around a knob or inward projection 46 integral with the casing section 2.

The side wall'of the casing section 2 is prefer ably provided with a recess of arcuate form as at 50' downwardly into the space between the tube 22 and the end wall of the casing. The lever is provided with an outwardly bent lug 88 to which is secured a coil spring the lower end of which is hookedover a hook member 62 which is a portion of a plate 84 which is also rigid with the tube and casing unit. It will be evident that the action of this spring is to tend to raise the cover 38 and thus to impart a spark producing motion to the flint wheel 32..

The lever 28 has a latch portion 88 adiacent its free end which is engageable with a shoulder 88 which extends outwardly from the upper end of tube 22. When the latch portion 88 is engaged with the shoulder it is impossible for the spring the latch 88 from the shoulder 68, aplate I2 is provided which is arranged in a recess." in the front casing section 4. This plate passes through a notch I8 provided in thebottom plate member 84, and has a downwardly or inwardly bent edge forming a flange II which rests against one wall of the notch (see Fig. 15). The plate is provided with a tongue 80 which is cut out from the body of the plate and bent outwardly and then up- '1 wardly in the form shown in Fig. 10. The lower end of this tongue is so positioned (Fi 13) that when the two sections of the casing are in coincidence the end of the tongue is located just above the bottom ofnotch 16 in the plate 84. As will be evident, this tongue will tend to prevent downward movement of the plate 12 and thus of the casing section 4, oflfering a resilient resistance thereto. However, .when sufiicientpressure is applied, the tongue through its resilience will move outwardly andwill permit the relative sliding of the cover sections. Further up come tongue there is provided a second tongue element 82 which is also adapted to engage the plate 84 as the plate 12 moves downwardly, so as to limit the downward movement of the wall section 4 (see Fig. 12)

The upper part of the plate 12 carries an outwardly bent tongue 84 which lies adjacent a-bent over portion 88 of the lever 84. Section 88 has an inclined wall 88 with which the member 84 cooperates, the surface 88 acting thus as a cam surface. The lower end 88 of the section 88 is rounded, and lies above and in the path of another inwardly bent portion 82 of the plate I2.

Assuming that the device is in the closed position shown in Figs. 1 and 11, in order to ignite the wick, the user places his four fingers on the rear section 2 and his thumb on the front section 4. He then pushes upwardly with his fingers and down with his thumb. This pressure overcomes the resilience ofthe tongue 80 and causes the section 4 to slide downward relative to the section 2 to the position shown in Figs. 2 and 12. In its sliding movement the section 4 carries with it the plate 12. As this plate moves downwardly, the member 84 engages thecam surface 88 and tends to swing the lever 54 in a clockwise direction (Fig. 11) After a certain movement, the lever 54 swings over sufficiently for the latch to escape from the shoulder 88. When this occurs, the spring 88 imparts a sudden opening motion to the cover 88, which causes the cover to rise and rotate the wheel 22, thus igniting the wick. The

upward movement of the cover is limited by the. engagement of the tongue 68 with the .notch 18,

while the downward movement of the casing sec-' of said cover to ignite said wick, said cover clos-' tion 4 is limited by the engagement of the catch 82 with the plate 84. i

When the lighter is to be closed, the section 4 is pushed upwardly with the thumb. When this occurs, the tongue." strikes the lower edge 80 of 5 lever 54 and pushes the lever upward against the action of spring 82. This causes the cover to move to closing position, thus extinguishing the wick. The rounded lower edge of the lever causes the member 82 to exert a certain pressure tending to 10 swing the leverslightly-towards the right (Fig. 12) so that as it rises the catch- 86 will be forcedto engage the shoulder 68. When the section 4 has been pushed up into coincidence-with the section 2, the cover is completely closed, and the lighter 15 is set for another operation.

Obviously the filling of the lighter is accomplished by removing the plug l8 and the flint may be changed by removing the plug 24 and the spring 2 The lighter is very easy to disassemble where repairs are necessary. The parts may be shifted apart, and then a pressure on the extending exposed portion of the tongue 88 will lift the tongue 82 so that the two sections may slide away from 25 each other. The device may be quickly assembled by returning the parts in the same manner;

" While I have described herein one embodiment of my invention, I wish it to be understood that I do not intendto limit myself thereby except within the scope of the appended claims. I claim: a

1. A cigarette lighter comprising-two wall sectlonsforming together a casing having an opening in its top, means connecting said sections for 45 relative vertical sliding motion therebetween, a

fuel container and a wick carried by one of said sections, a cover pivotally mounted on the same section, means operated by opening movement ing the open top of the casing, means tensioned by relative sliding movement between the sections for urging said cover to opening position, means forholding said cover against movement to opening position, and means operated by sliding movement between said sections to release said holding means.

and means carried by the other section operated 7 by sliding movement between said sections to engage said holding means and move the same to released position, whereby said cover rises an the wick is ignited.

' 3. A lighter comprising a casing divided yer-(15 connecting said sections for vertical sliding movetically into two sections, said casing having an opening in its top, means connecting said sections for vertical sliding movement therebetween, a fuel container carried by the first of said sections, it wick extending above the top of said fuel container and located below the opening in the a substantially vertical plane into two sections,

top of the casing, a cover pivotally mounted on the same section, said cover closing the opening in the top of the casing, means operated by opening movement of the cover to ignite the wick, a lever pivoted to said cover on the side of its pivot opposite the wick, said lever extending downwardly into the casing, a spring connected at one end to said lever and at the other end to one of said casing sections, latch means on said lever, normally holding the cover in closed posi- 1 tion, and means operable upon downward movement of the other section to swing the lever so as to release said latch means, whereby said cover rises and the wick is ignited.

4. A lighter comprising a casing divided vertically into two sections, said casing having an opening in its top, means connecting said sections for vertical sliding movement therebetween,

. a fuel container carried by the first of said sections. a wick extending above the top of said fuel container and located below the opening in the top of the casing, a cover pivotally mounted on the same section, said cover closing the opening in the top of the casing, means operated by opening movement of the cover to ignite the wick,

a lever pivoted to said cover on the side of its pivot opposite the wick, said lever extending downwardly into the casing, a spring connected at one end to said lever and at the other gnd to one of said casing sections, latch means on said lever, normally holding the cover in closed position, means operable upon downward movement. of the second section to swing the lever so as to release. said latch means, whereby said cover rises and the wick is ignited, and means on said second section engageable with the lower end of the lever for pushing the lever upwardly when the second section is moved upwardly so as to restore the lever and cover to locked position I against the action of said spring.

5. A lighter comprising a casing divided along said casing having an opening in its top, means connecting said sections for vertical sliding movement therebetween, a fuel container carried by one of said sections, a wick extending above the top of said fuel container and located below the opening in the top of the casing, a flint wheel rotatably mounted on the said section, a flint, means topress the flint against said flint wheel. a cover] pivotally mounted on the same section,

- said cover closing the said opening, means operatively connecting'said cover and said flint wheel,

whereby raising of the cover operates the flint wheel to ignite thewick, a lever pivoted to said cover on the side of its pivot opposite the wick,

said lever extending downwardlyinto the casing, a spring connected at one'end to said lever .5 and at the other end to the first casing section,

a'latch member on said lever, a shoulder engageable with'said latch member, said lever having a cam surfacethereon, said second section having a lugengageable with said cam surfaceand operable upon'downward movement of the second section to swing the lever so as latch from said shoulder.

to release said 8.1 lighter, comprising'a casing divided along V ,a substantially vertical plane into two sections,

saidxcasing having an opening in its top, means casing, a spring connected at one end to said a cover pivotally mounted-on the same section,

said cover closing the said opening, means operatively connecting said cover and said flint wheel, whereby raising of the cover operates the flint wheel to ignite the wick, a lever pivoted to said cover on the side of its pivot opposite the wick, said lever extending downwardly into the lever and at the other end to the first casing section, a latch member on said lever, a shoulder engageable with said latch member, said lever having a cam surface thereon, said second section having a lug engageable with said cam surface and operable upon downward movement of the second section to swing the lever so as to release said latch from said shouldensaid plate having another lug thereon located below the end of said lever and-engageable with the lower end of the lever for pushing the lever upwardly when the second section is moved upwardly so as to restore the lever and cover to locked position against the action of said spring.

a substantially vertical plane into two sections, said casing having an opening in its top, said sections having vertical dovetailed joints along their vertical meeting lines to permit vertical sliding movement between the two casing sections, a fuel container unit carried by one of said sections, a wick extending above the top of said fuel container and located below the opening in the top of the casing, ears secured to said container and upstanding therefrom, a shaft mount ed in said ears, a flint wheel mounted on said shaft, a flint, means to press the'flint against said flint wheel, a cover mounted on said shaft, a pawl and ratchet connection between said cover and said flint wheel, said cover closing the opening in the top of the casing, a lever pivoted to said cover on the side of its pivot opposite the wick, said lever extending downwardly into the casing; a spring connected at one end to said lever and at the other end to the first casing section, a latch member on said lever, a shoulder on said container unit engageable with said latch membenthe second casing section having a recess therein, a plate located in said recess, a shoulder on said first casing section, said plate having a spring tongue engageable with said shoulder for resiliently resisting downward move- 'ment of said second section with respect to said first section, a second tongue located above said first tongue for engaging said shoulder and nornally limiting downward movement of said second section, said lever having a cam surface thereon, said plate having a lug engageable with "7. A lighter comprising a casing divided along said cam surface and operable upon downward lever so as to release said latch from said shoulder.

8. A lightercomprising a casing divided along a substantially vertical plane. into two sections,

movement of the second section to swing the said casing having an opening in its top, said 7o sections, a wick extending above the top of said fuel container and located below the opening in the top of the casing, ears secured to said container and upstanding therefrom, a shaft mounted in said cars, a flint wheel mounted on said shaft, a flint, means to press the flint against said flint wheel, a cover mounted on said shaft, a pawl and ratchet connection between said cover and said flint wheel, said cover closing the opening in the top of the casing, a lever pivoted to said cover on the side of its pivot opposite the wick, said lever extending downwardly into the casing, a spring connected at one end to said lever and at the other end to the first casing section, a latch member on said lever, a shoulder on said container unit engageable with said latch member, the second casing section having a recess therein, a plate located in said recess, a shoulder on said first casing section, said plate having a spring tongue engageable with said shoulder for resiliently resisting downward movement of said second section with respect to said first section, a second tongue located above said first tongue for engaging said shoulder and normally limiting downward movement of said second section, said lever having a cam surface thereon, said plate having a lug engageable with said cam surface and operable upon downward movement of the second section to swing the lever so as to release said latch fromsaid shoulder. said plate having another lug thereon located below the end of said lever and engageable with the lower end of the lever for pushing the lever upwardly when the second section is moved upwardly so as to restore the lever and cover to locked position against the action ofsaid spring.

9. A lighter comprising a casing divided along a substantially vertical plane into two sections, said casing having an opening in its top, said sections having vertical dovetailed joints along their vertical meeting lines to permit vertical sliding movement between the two casing sections, a fuel container carried by one of said sections, a wick extending above the top of said fuel container and located below the opening in the top of the casing, a cover pivotally mounted on the same section, said cover closing the opening in the top of the casing, and means operated by relative sliding movement between said sections to raise the cover and ignite the wick.

10. A cigarette lighter comprising a casing formed of two sections of substantially similar dimensions in a vertical plane and normally in coincidence, means for securing said sections together in manually slidable relation with one another such that said sections may be moved out of and into coincidence with one another by diless than either dimension parallel to the vertical plane, whereby said lighter may be easily grasped in the hand with the thumb engaging one of the sections and the fingers engaging the other section and thus operated.

11. A cigarette lighter comprising a casing formed of two sections oi substantially similar dimensions in a vertical plane normally in coincidence, means for securing said sections together in manually slidable relation with one another such that said sections may be moved out of and into coincidence with one another by direct manual force, a wick, one of said sections having an opening therein adiacent'said wick in a plane perpendicular to the direction of move-' ment of said sections, a cover for closing said opening pivoted to turn about a horizontal axis perpendicular to said vertical plane, and means operable by manually produced sliding movement 5 between said sections out or coincidencewith one another to raise said cover and ignite said wick, the dimension of said casing perpendicular to said vertical plane being less than either dimension parallel to the vertical plane, whereby said lighter may be easily grasped in the hand with the thumbengaging one of the sections and the fingers engaging the other section and thus 0perated.

12. A lighter comprising a casing divided along a substantially vertical plane into two sections, said casing having an opening in its top, said sections having means connecting them together along their vertical meeting lines to permit vertical sliding movement between the two casing sections, a fuel container carried by one of said sections, a wick extending above the top of said fuel container and located below the opening in the top of the casing, a cover pivotally mounted on the same section, said cover closing the open- 2 ing in the top of the casing, and means operated by relative sliding movement between said sections to raise the cover and ignite the wick.

13. A cigarette lighter comprising a. casing formed of two sections, each of said sections alone forming substantially the whole of one of two opposed walls of the casing, means securing said sections together for relative lineal sliding movement therebetween in a direction parallel to the planes of said opposed walls, at least one or said sections having an opening therein in a wall perpendicular to the direction of movementof said sections, a wick adjacent said opening, igniting means for said wick operated by relative sliding movement between said sections, a cover for closing said opening connected to one of said sections and mounted to turn about an axis perpendicular to said opposed walls, and means operated by such sliding movement to move said cover.

14. A cigarette lighter comprising a casing formed of two sections, each of said sections forming one of two opposed walls of the casing, means securing said sections together for relative lineal sliding movement therebetween in a direction parallel to the planes of said opposed walls, at least one of said sections having an opening therein in a wall perpendicular to the direction of movement of said sections, a wick adjacent said opening, and igniting means for said wick operated by relative sliding movement between said sections, the dimension of said casing perpendicular to said opposed walls being less than either dimension parallel to the opposed walls, whereby said lighter may be easily grasped in the hand with the thumb engaging one of the walls and the fingers engaging the opposed wall and thus operated.

15. A lighter comprising two sections, each of said sections forming alone one side wall of the f walls, and means operated by sliding movement between sections to raise said cover and operate said igniting means to ignite'the wick. 16. A lighter comprising, two sections each forming-alone one side wall of the casing, means for securing said sections together in vertically slidable relation, whereby the second section may move downwardly with respect'to thel first section, said'first section having a' wick and igniting I mechanism mounted therein at substantially the samelevel, said second section upon its downward movement exposing one slde of the-wick,

said first section having an openingin the top thereof, a cover pivoted on 'said first section to turn about an axis substantially perpendicular to the planes of the side walls, and means operated by sliding movement between said sections to raise said. cover andpp erate' said igniting means.

,17. A lighter comprising two sections each i forming one side wall and portions of the end wall of a. casing, means for securing the end wall portions of said sections together in vertically slidable relation, whereby the second section may move downwardly with respect to the first section,

' one'of said sections having a fuel container and a" substantially horizontal portion above said 1fuel container near the top thereof, a wick 'extending from said fuel container and terminating above said horizontal portion, ignitingmecha- 'nism mounted on saidlhonzontai portion, said second section upon its downward movement exposing one side. of the wick, said first section,

axis "substantially perpendicular to planes 5 of the sidewalls, and means operatedby sliding movement between said sections to raise said said igniting mechanism to,

having a, fuel container, a'wick'extending' from S8. 1d "f1161 container, and igniting .inechanism mounted on substantially the same horizontal level assaid .wick,1said flr'stysection having an'20 opening in the top thereof, a cover pivoted on said first section to turn about anaxis substan-, g tially perpendicular to the-planes of the side] walls, and meansiope'rated by movement operate said igniting mechanism to ignite the wick.

" IRVING mam. i

having an opening in the top thereof, acover" pivoted onesaid first section to turnv aboutban 5 between said sections to'raise' said ,coverand '26 

